These are the words of Ahab, and, so far as we know, the only wise thing he ever spoke. The saying was probably not his own, but a proverb common in his time. As a warning to Benhadad the words proved true, but Ahab's own conduct in going up to Ramoth-gilead, where he perished, showed a strange forgetfulness of his own saying.
I. We have all a battle to fight, we all know what is meant by the "battle of life," but that of the Christian is inward and spiritual, a battle within a battle. Conversion to Christ means at once peace and warfare. Our peace with God means war with the world, the devil, and the flesh.
II. We have all a "harness" to put on. As the enemies we fight are spiritual, so must be our armour. The armour is Divinely provided and Divinely adapted to its purpose, and nothing can be a substitute for it. The Divine armour must be put on. We must take hold and keep hold of it, otherwise it is of no avail.
III. We have all a lesson of humility and patience to learn in connection with this warfare. Young converts are apt to think they have gained the victory when they are only commencing the conflict. We must learn to depend less and less on ourselves, and more and more on Christ. Our strength and victory must be in Him.
D. McEwan, Contemporary Pulpit,vol. iii., p. 120.
I. This text, with its historic connections, may well admonish us generally as to the justice and rectitude of our plans. It may give us with effect this plain teaching, that we ought to undertake nothing on our own responsibility which we cannot justify and defend. Rectitude should lie at the basis of all our express undertakings.
II. Supposing a work to be right in itself, it ought to be undertaken in a spirit of modesty, self-distrust, and fear. We are dependent creatures; and when we are beginning what will require from us a great amount of strength, it is meet that we should look towards the fountain-head of all strength.
III. It is not possible for any one to come to this modest, self-distrustful, resigned, and yet resolute state of mind about temporal things, about worldly chances and fortunes and family cares, who does not look at all beyond these things and above them to a higher world of. duty and faith. Unless we have regard to the higher things, we cannot walk steadily among the lower.
A. Raleigh, From Dawn to Perfect Day,p. 98.
References: 1 Kings 20:11. Homiletic Magazine,vol. xii.,p. 82; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xx., No. 1193; D. J. Vaughan, The Days of the Son of Man,p. 348. 1 Kings 20:14. J. Thain Davidson, Talks with Young Men,p. 103. 1 Kings 20:28. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxii., No. 1311; Parker, vol. viii., p. 46. 1 Kings 20:39; 1 Kings 20:40. E. M. Goulburn, Sermons in the Parish Church of Holywell,p. 333.